Real Estate, investments jump in 2014: +70% in Tuscany

Foreign capitals push the growth in investments in real estate assets in Italy, and in Tuscany specifically. According to estimates complied by CBRE, a international advisory agency specialized in the non-residential segment (commercial and productive), the sector attracted investments for €5.3 billion: an 11% increase compared to the previous year. The performance was markedly better in Tuscany, where the total volume increased from 155 million to 265 million, for an increase of 70% compared to 2014.

The thrust came from foreign operators, while caution prevailed among Italian investors, with a little dynamism shown only by the welfare funds of some professional categories, such as accountants, doctors, and architects. The survey revealed that 80% of total investments at the national level, equal to more than €4 billion, were effected by international subjects who “confirmed their high degree of confidence” in our country and demonstrated “a renewed interest in Italy” despite the weak economic context, commented Alessandro Mazzanti, ceo of CBRE Italia. According to these figures, foreign investments have returned to 2007 levels.

The annual volume registered on the Italian real estate market enabled a significant recovery of 2012’s most acute crisis (+104%), and is encouraging for the sector – highlights the CBRE – despite the fact that it confirms the sector’s delay compared to Europe, which runs at nearly twice the speed (more than 30% growth from 2013).

“We are nonetheless on a good path to recovery, due partly to positive signs from the government, with the reform of lease contracts and SIIQ’s (the real estate investment companies quoted on the stock market that invest in real estate destined to leases) – Mazzanti concluded. We hope that it will continue in this direction, and most importantly that it may stimulate the investment market though the creation of new instruments and the return of national investors. The recovery is here, but the market has changed since the last cycle.”